Philipins pull troops out of Iraq

[norsenerd]

And both America and Australia are upset.<br><br>The Philins (which have less then 30 troops left in Iraq and I <i>believe</i> would be pulling out anyway) in response the the taking of a Philipino civilian by a terorist group and threats to kill him are pulling out it's troops. The US and Australis sais taht this is the wrong singlal to send to the terporists.<br><br>I agree that it isn't a good single to send but think about it form the position of the Philipines. You have so few tropps int he country to serve anything more then to show the Philipino banner and one of your civilians has his life threteaned. Do you want to make things worse fore the rest of the world yet make things better for yourself and keep your domestic population happy or do you stick with the international comunity, have this cilivlian killed, and risk violance at home. With the domestic situation in the Philipeans I have no idea waht would be the best hting to do and can;t fault anby side at all.

[Zaaphod]

<!--QuoteBegin-norsenerd+Jul 16 2004, 04:43 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (norsenerd @ Jul 16 2004, 04:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> which have less then 30 troops left in Iraq and I <i>believe</i> would be pulling out anyway <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Yes, they were planning on pulling out August 20 or so.<br><br>These terrorist groups have no honor. They'll probably kill the hostage regardless if the Filipino troops leave or not.<br>

[Sky]

This is the last thing anybody needs. A nation caving in to a small terrorist group. All that the Philippines have done is proven the terrorist group "right". This will just encourage the radicals to do this again and again. The Philippine government is not exactly being a team player here. They need to grow a spine and stand their ground.

[IRT_BMT_IND]

<a href='http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... 8793972154' target='_blank'>http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... ><br>Looks like they're starting to get the troops out already.

[Ozymandias]

Personally I wouldn't have got my country involved in the first place. But with so few troops, even if it is the wrong message, I agree that it is much better to save the life of one than to sacrafice many more for mere principals.

[Tavis]

<!--QuoteBegin-Zaaphod+Jul 16 2004, 08:47 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Zaaphod @ Jul 16 2004, 08:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> <!--QuoteBegin-norsenerd+Jul 16 2004, 04:43 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (norsenerd @ Jul 16 2004, 04:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> which have less then 30 troops left in Iraq and I <i>believe</i> would be pulling out anyway <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Yes, they were planning on pulling out August 20 or so.<br><br>These terrorist groups have no honor. They'll probably kill the hostage regardless if the Filipino troops leave or not. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Ahh, but if they do not honor their arrangement with the Phillpines, the rest of the world will know it. With their credibility lost, no one in the world will accept such an agreement from them again. This must be watched closely.<br><br>Still, it seems a very bad deal for the Phillipines either way, since it is probably not difficult for that terrorist group to take another Filipino citizen hostage for something else.

[Ozymandias]

Yes, that's a good point. They must honour the agreement, but they didnt say they wouldnt take another hostage, did they?

[Zaaphod]

They did honor the agreement, surprisingly enough (<a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... 0&ncid=716' target='_blank'>Iraq Militants Free Filipino Truck Driver</a>).<br><br>Now they're threating to send "lines of cars laden with explosives" to kill Japanese troops unless they pull out.<br>

[Ozymandias]

lol its funny after beating the Japanese the American Military restricted Japan to an army that was not allowed abroad...until Bush decided that he needed them in Iraq...

[norsenerd]

I thinkt he Filipinos are sendign troups back in now. I'm nto to sure abotu that.